Most electronic devices we rely on every day use gold-plated contacts or terminals. In addition to gold's attractive value-added appearance, this precious metal possesses several key properties that make it a valuable material for many industries. However, the electronics and interconnection industries are major users of gold. It plays an important role in keeping electronic components working efficiently over time.
Gold can be found in a variety of electronic devices, including cell phones, desktops, and laptops. There are about 10 troy ounces (or 3/5 pound) of gold in every 10,000 smartphones. About 5 troy ounces of gold worth more than 9,000 in 200 computers.
Because of its ability to maintain electrical connections, gold is ideal for a wide range of electronic applications. It can be applied to any part of equipment that requires a reliable electrical connection. External components such as electrical connectors are most commonly gold plated. However, gold is mainly used in circuit boards of electronic devices.
The reliability of any device depends on the integrity of its circuit board connections. Therefore, electronics manufacturers plated their circuit boards with gold to improve conductivity and prevent corrosion. 99.9 percent pure gold plating, or so-called soft gold, is often used for pad connections or where wire bonds are required.
